William h



(No Model.)

W. H. BEARD.

SUCTION EXGAVATOR.

lower end of the receiving-mouth. The suc- WILLIAM H. BEARD, OF

SUCTION-E PATENT OFFICE.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

XCAVATOR.

SPBOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,381, dated September 21, 1886.

Application filed January 19, 1886. Serial No. 189,033. (No model.)

To all whom ,it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Suction-Excavators, of which the following is" a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in suction-excavators, and relates to an improved receiving-mouth and the means of operating the same in conjunction with the suction-pipe.

My invention also relates to an improved automatic rotary stirrer or digger adapted in the forward motion of the excavator to break or stir up the mud or silt to be raised, so that it will freely mix with the water and be drawn up the suction-pipe by the exhaust means, and discharged through the delivery-pipes into dumping-scows or receptacles; or the delivery-pipes may conduct the substances raised onto the banks of the canal or river being dredged, or to any other convenient location. The rotary stirrer or digger is arranged transversely of the device, and by preference supported by a hollow skeleton frame affixed to the excavator. To this skeleton frame are applied bracket-pieces adapted to control eonnecting-rods, a cross-axle, and a compound crank mechanism, adapted to impart a vertical to-and-fro motion to an extension, by preference of rectangular form, arranged at the tion-pipe at its lower part is enlarged in an angular form, similar toan inverted funnel, and the extension slides upon its lower end.

But that my invention may'be fully understood, 1 will proceed to describe the same in detail by the aid of the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1' is a side view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a back View of Fig. 1.

, In each of the views similar letters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.

A represents the lower end of the suctionpipe, which is formed with an inverted-funnel;shaped portion, A, which from the point 1 to the point 2 is, by preference, of rectangular form. The part A is, by preference, of

slightly smaller size than the upper portion, A. Upon the exterior of the part A (which forms the receiving-mouth,) I arrange a correspondingly-shaped extension, A which is adapted to slide freely on the part A when desired. The extension A is controlled verti call y in position by means of connecting-rods B B, arranged on opposite sides of the device, the lower ends of each of which are pivoted to plates 1) b, bolted or otherwise connected to the extension A*, while at their upper ends the connect-ingrods B B are, by means of adjustable joints O C and pivots c a, connected to the lower end of links D D, the opposite end of each of which is by pin-joint d connected to a lever-arm, E, one end of which is attached at each end of a cross-shaft, F. The

connecting-rods B B are controlled in position by guides 13* 13*, carried by brackets 12*, bolted to the hollow skeleton frame K. Motion is communicated to the cross-shaft F by a lever, G, mounted thereon, which is operated by a connecting-rod, H, to which motion is imparted by a lever or other suitable device arranged on the excavator, but not shown in the drawin gs. The cross-shaft F is supported in bean 'ings j, carried by brackets J, supported by a hollow skeleton frame, K, which at its lower end is provided with bearings is, adapted to receive and support the opposite ends of the shaft on of a rotary stirrer or digger, M, the outer periphery of which is armed with diggers or knives m, of reversed-L section, the cutting or digging portions of which are arranged at such an angle to the radius of the digger M that they shall readily penetrate and stir up the mud, silt, or other material to be raised, so that it shall readily mix with the water and be drawn up through the suctionpipe A. The bearings 70 are formed eccentric or elongated to allow of a slight upward and downward play to the digger M, in the event of its encountering any sudden obstruction or hard surface, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to the diggers or knives m. In the arrangement shown the diggers or knives m are formed of sections of angle-iron bolted'to the body of the stirrer or digger M, which is formed of two or other number of rims m and a series of spokes m, connected to hubs m, revolving on the shaft m; but this construction may be varied, so long as provision is made for the digging-knives freely entering the soil on their downward motion and freeing themselves of the same and the water displaced thereby on the upward motion. The suction-pipe A, at n, is bracketed to the frame K, as shown clearly by Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: The excavator being driven or drawn forward by any suitable means, the stirrer or digger M is caused to revolve and mix up the matter to be raised with the water. The matter thus disturbed is then drawn by suction through the pipe A by means of a centrifugal or other suitable pump. The depth to which the extension A is raised or depresset'l is regulated by experience, according to the nature of the matter to be raised and conducted away.

I have not thought necessary to show the upper portion of the suction-pipe A 01 the delivery-pipes, which are of the ordinary and well-known construction. The peculiar construction of the lower portion of the suctionpipe A allows of the free reception of the combined water and matter being raised and the concentration of the matter before entering the main portion of the pipe A, thereby cilj'ecting a great saving of working-power and the expense of raising so great aquantity of water as is the case with the ordinary construction of tube. The water being simply a vehicle and having to be returned or drained oil from the matter raised, and costing as much to raise as the material, consequently the less theamount of water raised the greater the profit to the contractor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the mouth of the suction-pipe of a SllOllODOXGLWULOI, of an ad justable sliding month extension operated by vertical connecting-rods B B, controlled by levers actuated from the upper part of the dc vice, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the suction-pipe of asuction-excavator, of a funnel-shaped end gradually increasing in area and a sliding mouth-extension, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

3. The combination, with a suction-excavator, of the automatic rotary stirrer or diggcrM, arranged transverselyof the machine and provided with knives or cutters ol' rcvcrscd- L section, substantially as and for the purpose described.

41.. The combination, with a suction-excavator tube, A, constructed with an enlargement of gradually-increasing area and a sliding mouth-extension,of an automaticrotary stirrer or digger, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of January, 1886.

\VILLTAV H. BEARD.

\Vitnesses:

JAS. E. WARNER, E. R. BREVOORT. 

